SHARE This piece comes to us from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). To honor Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, WCS and Nature are bringing you nine stories in the fields of nature and conservation. WCS Fiji Country Director Sangeeta Mangubhai at work. Photo credit: Emily Darling/WCS Though there have been bright spots, coastal communities that rely on the ocean economy have been hit hard over the last year by the global COVID-19 pandemic. In Fiji, these challenges were exacerbated by severe tropical cyclones that damaged homes, farms, infrastructure, and fishing gear essential for coastal communities. As the first vaccines begin to roll out globally and nations plan their economic recovery, many— including the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), the Pope, and 350 health organizations—are calling for a “green” COVID recovery that prioritizes tackling climate change. However, 2021 also marks the start of the UN’s Decade on Ocean Science.